Artists discuss culture and creativity during painted emergency box tour 

A series of seven colorfully painted emergency boxes spread across the Liberal Arts Campus were presented to a small group of Long Beach City College students and staff during a guided walking tour on Nov. 4.

The boxes contain essential necessities in the event of a campus disaster, including survival supplies, shelter in place tools, and communication and lighting equipment.  

“About a year ago, our facilities director asked me about painting some of these boxes, and of course I said yes. This has been a huge collaborative effort,” said Janet Hund, LBCC’s dean of visual, performing arts and cultural programs.

Students who volunteered to paint these emergency boxes over the summer were given a chance to present their work, and explain the meaning behind their chosen designs. 

JB Brown, the rep. of arts for ASB, delivered an impactful speech while presenting the box designed by the SAGE Scholars Academy. 

^{JB Brown, LBCC’s Associated Student Body Representative of the Arts, delivering a speech explaining the meaning of the C-Building’s SAGE Scholars Academy emergency box on Nov. 4 during the painted box tour. (Jacyn King)}

“In a college environment, especially as a Black student, navigating systemic challenges together isn’t just a choice, it’s necessary. In a world that was meant to break us, this serves as a reminder that we were never meant to be broken in the first place,” Brown said. 

The SAGE Scholars’ box, which is still a work in progress, is an ode to Black culture and tradition. 

The top of the box will display the word “akwaaba”, which means “welcome” in Ghana, and the Sankofa bird, which symbolizes reflecting on the past and creating a better future. 

“We must return to our roots in order to move forward with power. Our survival isn’t just physical. It’s cultural, it’s spiritual, it’s ancestral. It is a declaration to carry our past forward with pride,” Brown said. 

Another meaningful box was created by student workers at the Math Success Center, who aimed to combine themes of mathematics, art, and nature. 

“We wanted to show that mathematics is more than just numbers,” said Raeven Ramos, one of the student volunteers who worked on the box. 

Ramos, along with Josie Paiste and Sarah Mace, used a number of symbols in order to bring their vision to life. 

“We have a golden line that represents the golden ratio. We included a butterfly, which stands for growth, change, and hope, as well as showing support for undocumented students. We also incorporated colors of the rainbow to represent our support for the LGBTQ community,” Ramos said. 

^{A glimpse of the Math Success Center’s student workers box is shown, while LBCC’s Dean of visual, performing arts and cultural programs, Janet Hund, kicks off the painted box tour on Nov. 4. (Jacyn King)}

Other boxes were used to highlight some of LBCC’s on-campus clubs. 

A box created by the Spotlight Theatre Club incorporated the classic phrase “The show must go on” into its design, while a box painted by members of the MANA Club used images of water, koi fish, and lions to represent its Asian-American, Desi, and Pacific Islander members. 

^{Painted by the MANA Club, the M-Building emergency box shows a scene of koi fish, bamboo stalks, and the flags of various Pacific islander nations. This box was the last stop on the walking tour, desserts and prizes were given out afterwards. (Jacyn King)}

Ceramixa, one of LBCC’s newest clubs, used their box to promote an upcoming ceramics sale, and was even selling pieces made by its members during the tour. 

“Our box is still a work in progress, but it’s basically gonna show the process of clay. The front has little critters throwing clay on wheels, and the other sides of the box will show the kiln and firing processes,” club president Kaitlyn Corona said. 

Overall, each box represented a different aspect of the student experience at LBCC. 

“I feel like everybody has something that somebody else can relate to. When you look at that (the SAGE Scholars’) box, you see yourself,” Brown said. 

^{The emergency box located outside of the D-Building was painted in various science themes including biology, astronomy, chemistry, physics and archelogy. (Jacyn King)}

According to Hund, a walking tour of the painted emergency boxes at the Trades, Technology and Community Learning Campus will take place sometime in the spring.